Digital transformation social spaces of Romanians and Moldovans in Berlin

Abstract

This study focuses on the online community of Romanian-speaking mobile migrants who live or regularly return to Berlin. Engaging with theories on transnationalism and social media, this article addresses how digital transnational social spaces contribute to international migration. On the basis of both quantitative and qualitative data collected during 2020-21, it is argued that the social media groups of Romanian-speaking migrants are community spaces which strengthen ties between the members, thus facilitating international migration. Digital transnational social spaces carry meaning to the migrant community, state institutions and social networks, as well as to researchers; while, for migrants, the existence of Facebook groups lowers the threshold of integration and allows the strengthening of social ties. Engaged institutions could rethink their communications strategy by considering a more active presence on social media, while the platforms could use digital communities as targeted audiences. Finally, the research is enriched with a deeper perspective on the impact of social media on international migration.